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Surgeon removed ovary by mistake

A pregnant woman suffering from appendicitis died on the operating table weeks after a surgeon mistakenly removed her ovary instead of her appendix, medical watchdogs heard.

Mother-of-three Maria De Jesus, 32, was 20 weeks pregnant with her fourth child when she was admitted to Queen's Hospital in Romford, Essex, a Fitness to Practise Panel of the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) heard.

The "complicated" operation was carried out at the weekend by a junior surgeon who removed her ovary in error, while the more senior consultant had gone home.

Less than three weeks later she was readmitted again suffering abdominal pains and the mistake was discovered.

But two days after that Ms De Jesus, from Dagenham, miscarried her baby boy and died on the operating table after having the appendix removed.

Peter Horgan, lawyer for the MPTS told the panel the patient, referred to as Patient A, was first admitted suffering abdominal pains on October 21, 2011, to Queen's Hospital run by Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospital NHS Trust.

She was seen by a surgical registrar, Dr Christopher Liao and the consultant general and surgical lead Dr Babatunde Coker and an appendectomy recommended.

Ms De Jesus was put on the emergency surgery list but waited to give consent for the operation before speaking to her husband.

Dr Coker went to the coffee room while waiting for Ms De Jesus to give consent, the panel heard.

But having heard nothing back, he went home after agreeing Dr Al Abed would carry out the procedure.

Dr Al Abed was told Dr Coker would "be around" and available if they needed him, the hearing was told.

Dr Al Abed had been working at the hospital just under three weeks and failed to inform more senior colleagues he only had limited experience of carrying out such operations on pregnant women.

He has also admitted failing to ensure he was supervised during the procedure or calling for the duty consultant when the operation started to go wrong.

During the operation the patient began to bleed heavily.

Mr Horgan told the panel: "In the midst of this Mr Al Abed removed what he clearly believed to be the appendix. He clearly thought he had found it, removed it and gave it to a nurse.

"In fact this turned out to be Patient A's right ovary."

He said Dr Liao advised Dr Al Abed to get Dr Coker to help and, though he agreed, did not instruct anyone to get him - having assumed somebody else was trying to contact the senior surgeon.

Ms De Jesus was discharged from the hospital eight days later on October 31, 2011 then re-admitted on November 7, again suffering abdominal pain.

Two days later, on November 9, it was discovered by another doctor that her ovary rather than appendix had been removed. On November 11, she gave birth to a stillborn baby boy and had her appendix removed.

Mr Horgan added: "Sadly Patient A died whilst on the operating table later that morning."

A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as multiple organ failure due to septicaemia.

Mr Horgan said Dr Al Abed acted "outside the limits of his competency" and failed to call on Dr Coker when problems began.

Dr Coker has admitted failing to carry out the surgery himself or at least being present to supervise more junior colleagues. He denies misconduct.

Comments

Where did that "doctor" get his Medical qualifications? The WEET-BIX?
STRIKE him OFF the Medical Register!! NOW!!!
He should NEVER be allowed near ANY patient again. That sort of thing is not just incompetant. It is DANGEROUS and very un-professional.

Where did that "doctor" get his Medical qualifications? The WEET-BIX?
STRIKE him OFF the Medical Register!! NOW!!!
He should NEVER be allowed near ANY patient again. That sort of thing is not just incompetant. It is DANGEROUS and very un-professional.Paul F. McCourt

Where did that "doctor" get his Medical qualifications? The WEET-BIX?
STRIKE him OFF the Medical Register!! NOW!!!
He should NEVER be allowed near ANY patient again. That sort of thing is not just incompetant. It is DANGEROUS and very un-professional.

Score: 5

Aliburns
9:31pm Mon 14 Apr 14

I assume nobody pointed out to you that Romford hasn't been in Essex for almost half a century?

I assume nobody pointed out to you that Romford hasn't been in Essex for almost half a century?Aliburns

I assume nobody pointed out to you that Romford hasn't been in Essex for almost half a century?

Score: -1

Paul F. McCourt
10:31pm Mon 14 Apr 14

Please excuse my ignorance, Aliburns, but I am writing to you from Turangi, New Zealand. I don't know who or what Romford is, but what I say, stands. Perhaps you're referring to some brutal politician that was a part of British History, and what a brutal history you have.
Anyway, as I said, this is an atrosity against a Patient and absolutely very incompetent. If he was a Medical Droid, he should be sent to Watto's Junk Yard. Rubbish! Useless! NO integrity at all. Very Bad Programming. No-one will ever touch him. Not even for spare parts. Munted!
He reminds me of my, now apparently dead, dentist.

Please excuse my ignorance, Aliburns, but I am writing to you from Turangi, New Zealand. I don't know who or what Romford is, but what I say, stands. Perhaps you're referring to some brutal politician that was a part of British History, and what a brutal history you have.
Anyway, as I said, this is an atrosity against a Patient and absolutely very incompetent. If he was a Medical Droid, he should be sent to Watto's Junk Yard. Rubbish! Useless! NO integrity at all. Very Bad Programming. No-one will ever touch him. Not even for spare parts. Munted!
He reminds me of my, now apparently dead, dentist.Paul F. McCourt

Please excuse my ignorance, Aliburns, but I am writing to you from Turangi, New Zealand. I don't know who or what Romford is, but what I say, stands. Perhaps you're referring to some brutal politician that was a part of British History, and what a brutal history you have.
Anyway, as I said, this is an atrosity against a Patient and absolutely very incompetent. If he was a Medical Droid, he should be sent to Watto's Junk Yard. Rubbish! Useless! NO integrity at all. Very Bad Programming. No-one will ever touch him. Not even for spare parts. Munted!
He reminds me of my, now apparently dead, dentist.

Score: 0

reasonableone
3:00am Tue 15 Apr 14

The pic of this doctor in the dailymail that removed the wrong organ is very chilling. His eyes look evil.

The pic of this doctor in the dailymail that removed the wrong organ is very chilling. His eyes look evil.reasonableone

The pic of this doctor in the dailymail that removed the wrong organ is very chilling. His eyes look evil.

Score: 0

Paul F. McCourt
4:16am Tue 15 Apr 14

G'day Reasonableone,
Does that MAD doctor emind you of that other mongrel who murdered over 200 elderly people? They had a doco on TV about him in the "Born To Kill" series, and they reckong the last words of these poor oldies would've been, "Thank You, doctor!" I take it they knew that he was killing them. Doctor Evil I think he was called. He was a jew. VERY Evil! I'm not sure, but I think he committed "sideways" in Jail. Anyone in the know about that?
I Wish everyone Well, and that you ALL take real good care. Most important, look after each other and protect eachother from the evil that lurks in your City.
Best Wishes, to All.

G'day Reasonableone,
Does that MAD doctor emind you of that other mongrel who murdered over 200 elderly people? They had a doco on TV about him in the "Born To Kill" series, and they reckong the last words of these poor oldies would've been, "Thank You, doctor!" I take it they knew that he was killing them. Doctor Evil I think he was called. He was a jew. VERY Evil! I'm not sure, but I think he committed "sideways" in Jail. Anyone in the know about that?
I Wish everyone Well, and that you ALL take real good care. Most important, look after each other and protect eachother from the evil that lurks in your City.
Best Wishes, to All.Paul F. McCourt

G'day Reasonableone,
Does that MAD doctor emind you of that other mongrel who murdered over 200 elderly people? They had a doco on TV about him in the "Born To Kill" series, and they reckong the last words of these poor oldies would've been, "Thank You, doctor!" I take it they knew that he was killing them. Doctor Evil I think he was called. He was a jew. VERY Evil! I'm not sure, but I think he committed "sideways" in Jail. Anyone in the know about that?
I Wish everyone Well, and that you ALL take real good care. Most important, look after each other and protect eachother from the evil that lurks in your City.
Best Wishes, to All.

Score: -2

welshmen
11:13am Tue 15 Apr 14

And these are the Doctors the Liberal Elite in our Country say are the back bone of our NHS, with out them the NHS would calapse, well i think it's already happening, they imported most of them here along with the Nurses, 26% of NHS Doctors and Nurses are from foreign Countries 11% can't speak English, the NHS is spending £2875.00 on each one to learn English and that's not counting the foreign cleaners imported for cheap labour also being taught English at the NHS expense or us the taxpayer while we have our own on the dole....

And these are the Doctors the Liberal Elite in our Country say are the back bone of our NHS, with out them the NHS would calapse, well i think it's already happening, they imported most of them here along with the Nurses, 26% of NHS Doctors and Nurses are from foreign Countries 11% can't speak English, the NHS is spending £2875.00 on each one to learn English and that's not counting the foreign cleaners imported for cheap labour also being taught English at the NHS expense or us the taxpayer while we have our own on the dole....welshmen

And these are the Doctors the Liberal Elite in our Country say are the back bone of our NHS, with out them the NHS would calapse, well i think it's already happening, they imported most of them here along with the Nurses, 26% of NHS Doctors and Nurses are from foreign Countries 11% can't speak English, the NHS is spending £2875.00 on each one to learn English and that's not counting the foreign cleaners imported for cheap labour also being taught English at the NHS expense or us the taxpayer while we have our own on the dole....

Score: 0

Chippy70
4:06pm Tue 15 Apr 14

And we are Llowing these people to work as surgeons in our hospitals! Very scary.

And we are Llowing these people to work as surgeons in our hospitals! Very scary.Chippy70

And we are Llowing these people to work as surgeons in our hospitals! Very scary.

Score: 1

Paul F. McCourt
9:00pm Tue 15 Apr 14

I don't trust ANY Medical System or Hospital these days. Its ALL about Money! Thank Goodness I'm Healthy!
America is the worse place as far as greed goes. India, and other parts of Asia are just notorius for thei FILTH and disgusting habits and "customs." And they bring those "skills" to us? NO Wucking Fay! (Sorry!)
Even here in NZ we have incompetence here, too. Our local Medical Centre is useless and they only want our Money.
I'd sooner trust ET's to treat us. At least they have ethics.

I don't trust ANY Medical System or Hospital these days. Its ALL about Money! Thank Goodness I'm Healthy!
America is the worse place as far as greed goes. India, and other parts of Asia are just notorius for thei FILTH and disgusting habits and "customs." And they bring those "skills" to us? NO Wucking Fay! (Sorry!)
Even here in NZ we have incompetence here, too. Our local Medical Centre is useless and they only want our Money.
I'd sooner trust ET's to treat us. At least they have ethics.Paul F. McCourt

I don't trust ANY Medical System or Hospital these days. Its ALL about Money! Thank Goodness I'm Healthy!
America is the worse place as far as greed goes. India, and other parts of Asia are just notorius for thei FILTH and disgusting habits and "customs." And they bring those "skills" to us? NO Wucking Fay! (Sorry!)
Even here in NZ we have incompetence here, too. Our local Medical Centre is useless and they only want our Money.
I'd sooner trust ET's to treat us. At least they have ethics.

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